CT cigarette tax bill for on-line purchases

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

Connecticut

I just got hit with $1316 Connecticut DRS tax bill for cigarettes purchased on-line back in 2008. Can anybody adivce if there is any way to get out of this or at least reduce this bill? We are low income family, and there is no way we can come up with $1316. I called DRS, but they refused to help me out.

If I do not pay this, what can DRS do to me? Can they arrest my bank account or go after my wages?

I just got hit with $1316 Connecticut DRS tax bill for cigarettes purchased on-line back in 2008. Can anybody adivce if there is any way to get out of this or at least reduce this bill? We are low income family, and there is no way we can come up with $1316. I called DRS, but they refused to help me out.

If I do not pay this, what can DRS do to me? Can they arrest my bank account or go after my wages?

Under Federal law, cigarette vendors who sell and ship cigarettes into another State to anyone other than a licensed distributor must report to the State (1) the name and address of the person(s) to whom cigarettes shipments were made, (2) the brands of cigarettes shipped, and (3) the quantities of cigarettes shipped. (Jenkins Act 15 U.S.C. 375 – 378)

the folks that shipped them don't want to have to pay the taxes so they willingly report as required by law.

Actually that was a valid question, because sometimes the evidence has proven to be iffy. However, it mostly comes from the states forcing online sellers to turn over their customer lists.

from the act ([url]http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/15C10A.txt):[/url]

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

The fact that any person ships or delivers for shipment any
cigarettes shall, if such shipment is into a State in which such
person has filed a statement with the tobacco tax administrator
under subsection (a)(1) of this section, be presumptive evidence
(1) that such cigarettes were sold, or transferred for profit, by
such person, and (2) that such sale or transfer was to other than a
distributor licensed by or located in such State.
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

There records are not sufficient evidence of who purchased the tobacco; only that it was sold and not to a distributor.

The statement to the administrator will not be admissible w/o testimony from the company who produced the document.

Hence my query to the OP: what proof have they presented you with regarding the tax due? Just their word?

Its up to the OP if they wish to demand proof or not; the CT IRS will not lower the amount.

Smoking & drinking are legal ; I have no anti-smoking garbage to spew.

These records may be available under a FOIA request .. or the agency may not object to their discovery via a FOIA request.

from the act ([url]http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/15C10A.txt):[/url]

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

The fact that any person ships or delivers for shipment any
cigarettes shall, if such shipment is into a State in which such
person has filed a statement with the tobacco tax administrator
under subsection (a)(1) of this section, be presumptive evidence
(1) that such cigarettes were sold, or transferred for profit, by
such person, and (2) that such sale or transfer was to other than a
distributor licensed by or located in such State.
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

There records are not sufficient evidence of who purchased the tobacco; only that it was sold and not to a distributor.

The statement to the administrator will not be admissible w/o testimony from the company who produced the document.

Hence my query to the OP: what proof have they presented you with regarding the tax due? Just their word?

Its up to the OP if they wish to demand proof or not; the CT IRS will not lower the amount.

Smoking & drinking are legal ; I have no anti-smoking garbage to spew.

These records may be available under a FOIA request .. or the agency may not object to their discovery via a FOIA request.

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